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Why is it ordained that Shudras must serve the Dvijas, and especially Brahmanas, as their foremost duty?

Does this oppress Shudras or is it actually beneficial for them to serve the twice-born?

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  • Interpolation by Vedantins
    – Rakesh Joshi
    Jan 30, 2019 at 20:04
  • @RakeshJoshi The Vedas say the same thing, same thing with all Dharma Shastras, all Puranas, Mahabharata, and Ramayana. Are all Hindu scriptures interpolated by Vedantins? On the contrary, Vedanta IS Hinduism.
    – Ikshvaku
    Jan 30, 2019 at 20:24
  • then quote them. Why making claims with no.backup ?
    – Rakesh Joshi
    Jan 30, 2019 at 20:50
  • @RakeshJoshi I just quoted a Mahabharata verse in my answer below.
    – Ikshvaku
    Jan 30, 2019 at 20:54
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    @RakeshJoshi hinduism.stackexchange.com/a/32288/11726
    – Ikshvaku
    Jan 31, 2019 at 1:02

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Does this oppress Shudras or is it actually beneficial for them to serve the twice-born?

It does not oppress Shudras, but instead, is actually beneficial for them to serve the twice-born.

In fact, the quality of Tamas oppresses Shudras, as explained by this Mahabharata verse:

Mahābhārata—Anuśāsana (Do.).—‘Finding the Śūdra oppressed with bad traits due to the quality of Tamas, Pitāmaha ordained attendance upon the twice-born as his duty. Through his devotion to the twice-born, the Śūdra drops off all those traits due to the quality of Tamas; and by attending upon the twice-born, the Śūdra attains the highest good.—Harmless, devoted to good deeds, worshipful towards gods and the twice-born, the Śūdra becomes endowed with all the rewards of Dharma.’

So serving Dvijas actually makes Shudras sattvic. Hence, it is beneficial for them and not oppressive.

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    whenever we advice someone to do something they don't like, and also add 'i'm telling it for your own good'.. what would their reaction be ? :)
    – mar
    Jan 30, 2019 at 4:35
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    @RakeshJoshi Because according to Gita and Manusmriti, sattva quality helps one do good actions.
    – Ikshvaku
    Jan 30, 2019 at 20:54
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    @Ikshvaku who follows manu smriti? And geeta also says that vedas are.nothing but matter of tri gunas so one must overcome them. And vedas are flowery words one must not get attracted to them. I am happy to adopt Vedas than geetA
    – Rakesh Joshi
    Jan 31, 2019 at 0:00
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    @RakeshJoshi The "flowery words" thing is referring to the karma kanda.
    – Ikshvaku
    Jan 31, 2019 at 0:01
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    @RakeshJoshi What the Bhagavad Gita criticizes is not the Karma Kanda of the Vedas, but people who focus on the Karma Kanda of the Vedas to the exclusion of the Jnana Kanda, i.e. Mimamsakas.
    – Keshav Srinivasan ♦
    Jan 31, 2019 at 3:39

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